I’d like to think I’ll do anything and say, “Yes!” to God’s will. But the truth?
A lot of the time, I’d rather not do anything. Life is too complicated and painful.
I’d rather curl up and lick my wounds.
I’d rather retreat from people, because people can wound—and sometimes, they don’t even realize it. And since I’m being completely transparent, I’d rather figure out life on my own than open myself up to the vulnerability of sharing the hope I have in Christ.
Doing His will instead of mine sounds holy on paper—but in real life, it often feels inconvenient, even dangerous.
I’d rather not do anything
My ‘druthers—my “what I’d rather”—would be to focus on my own issues and forget the world around me.
The bare truth is I’d rather withdraw from people. People can bring pain with them, even when they don’t mean to. I’d rather keep to myself, figure life out on my own, and not be bothered with the discomfort of sharing the hope I have in Christ.
Since I’ve gone this far in my honesty, I’ll go even further. Becoming that vulnerable around people is inconvenient. Not only that, but it’s too risky.
In order for me to say, “not my will, but Yours be done,” and mean it, means surrendering control. It means trusting God not just with the outcome, but with the pain along the way. And that’s not easy.
The school of fire and water
Lately, I’ve been reading Psalm 66, and what stands out isn’t just the blessing—it’s the challenge. The Psalmist writes,
You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Psalm 66:11,12 NKJV
Psalm 66 provides us with a clear picture, if not the clearest, of what passing through a trial feels like. It’s like being trapped, overwhelmed, and weighed down by life’s burdens. Yet even in that place, God does not abandon us. He doesn’t leave us stuck in the struggle. Instead, He walks with us through every fire and every flood, bringing us out on the other side.
I’ll do anything, even walking through fire and water
When we face trouble, when we’re walking through the fire and water, God’s mercy never fails. As the Psalmist declares, “But God has surely heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!” (Psalm 66:19,20, NKJV).
God brings comfort, often in unexpected ways. His faithfulness sustains us, and as He sustains us, He shapes us into vessels of compassion, ready to serve others who are facing their own fiery trials.
Victories aren’t really victories unless they’ve been fought for and won. There’s always a cost, a price to be paid in perseverance, faith, and sometimes tears. The process of battle can be painful and messy, but it’s through that struggle that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
Meeting us on the battlefield
God is ready to meet us on the battlefield—ready to fight alongside us, to carry us when we’re weary, and to bring victory in His perfect timing.
But the real question is: Are we truly ready to do anything?
Are we willing to surrender our own plans, to embrace the fire and water, trusting that He is shaping us for something greater?
When we say, “I’ll do anything, go anywhere,” will we mean it not just in moments of blessing, but also in the fire and water?
That’s the faith God calls us to, a faith that trusts Him through the battle, knowing that on the other side is the rich fulfillment He promises.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us."
2 Corinthians 1:3,4 NCV
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